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Elton John 'grateful to be alive,' scheduled for surgery

Elton John plays first Baton Rouge concert with full band in more than 20 years

Elton John played his first Baton Rouge show with a full band in more than 20 years on March 29, 2013 at the Baton Rouge River Center. The musician on Tuesday canceled a show in London's Hyde Park and other summer dates while he is treated for an inflamed appendix and surrounding abscess.
(NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune archive)

LONDON — Elton John says he is grateful to be alive after learning he had been playing European tour dates while suffering from undiagnosed appendicitis. The 66-year-old musician is quoted in The Sun newspaper Wednesday as saying he had struggled through the shows in pain, thinking he had food poisoning.

He later learned "I was a ticking time bomb. I guess I could have died at any time."

He added: "I feel so lucky and grateful to be alive."

On Tuesday, John canceled a show in London's Hyde Park and other summer dates while he is treated for an inflamed appendix and surrounding abscess.

He is due to have surgery in the next few weeks after treatment with antibiotics.